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Scrap-metal rogues facing clampdown
Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date online: 06 February 2012
AN unlicensed scrap-metal carrier has been prosecuted after his van was stopped while laden with metal.
Oldham Council successfully prosecuted Terence Robson in a crackdown on rogue traders and metal thieves.
Last June, the council and Greater Manchester Police launched a joint initiative targeting anyone involved in illegally trading, transporting or stealing scrap metal. As part of this initiative a number of vehicles are regularly stopped and searched by police officers.
On June 15, a Nissan Cabstar van laden with metal was pulled over on Delph Lane, Delph.
Driver and owner, Mr Robson, from Sedbergh Close, Bradford, was unable to produce a Waste Carriers Licence issued by the Environment Agency.
He was issued with a fixed- penalty notice for £300. When the 30-year-old failed to pay, legal proceedings were launched. The case was heard at Oldham Magistrates’ Court and in Robson’s absence, he was fined £300 with £350 costs.
Councillor Jean Stretton said: “Over the last few years, the price of scrap metal has risen sharply and this has signalled a rise in the number of people making a living from the trade and, unfortunately, incidents of theft.”
To report an incident of involving the carrying of unlicensed scrap metal call 0161-770 6644 or via www.oldham.gov.uk.
Comments
They should have impounded his vehicle until he paid his fine!
And here we see the results of successive anti green governments! Everything green has been made illegal or uneconomical requiring massive beauracratic input & costing a fortune.
This is the heir to the rag & bone man collecting scrap and recycling it, so long as theft isn't involved then they're doing a good service. This case has no suggestion of theft, just a failure to adhere to beaurocracy, the fine on a poor man is a shameful amount, criminals aren't fined that much!
They should have made him come back and clear all the Xmas trees around the borough. Yes, that's "Xmas trees" left standing. We have one at Wren's Nest in Shaw if anybody cares to come and clear it away!
D'GAWBY, if the tree bothers you that much you can move it yourself.......
This story has gone from unlicensed scrap-metal carrier to dumped xmas trees.
If you were really bothered by the xmas tree being left at Wren's nest shaw then pick it up yourself and take it over to the waste recycling unit (TIP)instead of moaning "can somebody else do it....."
Have Your Say
This is all well and good - but has he paid, is he likely to pay, will a custodial sentence be ensuing in the unlikely event of him paying? Held in obeyance I think!
By DaveWarby27Duchess @ 06/02/2012 16:41:11